Clamp



June 3, 1924. 1,496,603

M. R. ROTHENBERGER' CLAMP Filed Dec, 15, 1922 Arm/Mfrs Patented June 3,1924.

UNITE MAX RICHARD ROTHENBERGER, OF DRE-EDEN, -GERMANY,

ASSIGNOR T0 FRANZ GROVE. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GLAD/IR Application filed December 15, 1822.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAX RICHARD ROTH-ENBERGER, a citizen of the German Republic, and a resident ofPotschappel, by Dresden, Saxony, Germany, have invented a new andImproved Clamp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in clamping devices, and hasparticular reference to an electrical conductor clamp.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamp, which may be quicklyand securely attached to an electrical conductor, such as a main feedwire for the purpose of electrically connecting several branch.conductors to the main, conductor.

Another object is to so construct the clamp that the same may be securedto conductors of different sizes and utilized in electrically connectingconductors of various diameters.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the followingdetail description, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, which illustrates different embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of theinvention, showing the same attached to a main conductor;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 Figure l;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the clamping element employed inconnection with Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slightly different form of theinvention;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of still another form ofthe invention; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3inclusive, it will be seen that the device comprises a body consistingof a pair of oppositely disposed plates 8 connected at their upper endsby the transverse portion 9, the inner surface of which is curved toaccommodate the main conductor 10 when the device is attached thereto.In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, a terminal strip 11 maybe emloyed, which is interposed between the conduster 10 and the portion9 of the device and Serial No. 607,175.

to which branch conductors, such as 12, are 7 connected. Adjacent edgesof the body are cut away or reduced, as indicated at 13', and the loweredge of the reduced portion is further cut away to form the supportingportions or shoulders 14 and 15 arranged at different distances from theupper end of the body. Thesupporting portions 14 and 15 are designed toreceive the ends of the stub shaft 16 located eceentrically with res setto the center of a clamping element 1 in the form of a grooved rollerwhich ispositioned between the plates 8. The roller 17 is provided'inits periphery with a radially extending recess 18 for receiving one endof any suitable tool 19, which is utilized to rotate the roller 17 withrespect to the body, and by reason of the eccentrical mounting of thisroller, it will be obvious that when the same is rotated the peripherythereof will engage the conductor 10 and bend the ame to substantiallythe contour of the curved portion 9. In so doing a wedging action willbe effected which will secure the body of the clamp to the conductor. 10and maintain the same in position thereon. If desired, the plates 8 maybe provided with aligned openings 20 for receiving branch conductors,such as-the conductors 12 instead of utilizing the terminal strip 11. Itwill be seen from the foregoing description that the device may beattached to conductors of different diameters by adjusting the roller 17so that the shaft 16 will engage different supporting portions 14 and15.

In Figures 4 and 5 the body is of substantially the same configurationas that shown in Figure 1 and includes the plates 8 and the connectingportion 9. The body in this instance is also designed to be attached tothe main feed conductor 10, which is engaged with branch conductors 12extending transversely through the plates 8 adjacent the upper endsthereof. The lower ends of the plates 8 are also provided with alignedsupporting portions 14 and 15 with which a pin 21 is adapted to engageto position the roller 17 at various distances from the upper end of thebody to accommodate different sized conductors 10. The pin 21 extendsthrough any one of a plurality of openings 22 formed in the roller orclamping element 17 at different distances fromthe eriphery thereof soas to make provision r additional ad justments of the roller 17 withrespect to the plates 8. In each instance the openings 22 are disposedeccentrically with respect to the center of the roller so that when thesame is rotated by engagement of the tool 19 with the radially disposedopening 18 the roller will engage the conductor and securely clamp thebody to said conductor and also force the conductor into engagement withthe other branch conductors 12.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 the body is againshown as comprising oppositely disposed plates 8 connected at theirupper ends by the portion 9, said plates in this instance being providedwith a plurality of aligned openings'23, which form supporting portionsfor pins 2 1-, which are utilized to pivotally connect the clampingelements to the body between the plates 8. Each oi. the elements 25 isprovided with a series of openings 26 arranged longitudinally thereoffsothat the clamping element may be adjusted to engage conductors 10 ofdifferent diameters. I By providing the series of openings 23 in theplates; 8 and the openings 26 in the elements 25, it will be obviousthat numerous adjustments of the latter elements may be made. The upperends of the plates 8' are further provided with longitudinal slots 27having their upper edges grooved to receive branch conductors 12, whichin turn engage the conductor 10 when the elements 25, which are grooved,as indicated at 28, are swung about their pivots to engage the conductor10 and force the same upwardly.

h at is'claiined is:

1, In a clamp of the character described, a body including oppositelydisposed plates adapted to receive a conductor therebetween, and aclamping element rotatably mounted between said plates, said plates andclamping element having cooperating means for positioning the lattereccentrically with respect to said conductor, and said plates beingfurther provided with openings for receivingv other conductorsengageable with the first named conductor.

2. In a clamp, a body including oppositely disposed plates capable ofreceiving a con-' ductor therebetween and having openings for receivinganother conductor extending ment rotatably mounted between said plates,1

said plates each having a plurality of sup-v porting portions andsaidclamping element carrying an eccentrically mounted p n en- T gageablewith said portions for positioning the clamping element eccentricallywith re-- spect to said conductor and for adjusting the axis of rotationof the clamping element toward and away from said conductor.

at. In a clamp, a body including oppositely disposed plates connected atadjacent ends and provided with curved aligned supporting portionsconnnunicating with each other and arranged at varying distances fromsaid connected ends, a clamping element positioned between said plates,means eccentrically carried by said clamping element and engageable withany of said aligned supporting portions to permit of rotation of saidclamping element to clamp to said body a conductor interposed betweensaid element and the connected ends of said plates.

MAX RICHARD ROTI-IENBERGER Witnesses:

A. Nnonn,

mo. V. Frsoimn.

